Rear axle



SIMA

REAR AXLE June 42, 1925.

M02@ fm Patented June 2, 1.925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-LCE LOUIS SIMA, OF CHICGQILLINOIS.

l REAR AXLE.

Application filed February 11, v1924. Serial No. 691,933.

The rear axle of Ford and Chevrolet cars" is so constructed that in case of breakage of the shaft it is necessary to disassemble.

the rear axle structure in Vorder to remove lthe broken parts and substitute a new shaft.

The object of the present invention is to modify the construction of the rear axle of a Ford or Chevrolet car in such a way that, in the event of breakage of the shaft, rc-

pairs may be quickly and easily euected.

CJI

mounted thereon.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmental View of a rear axle embodying the features of my invention, the enclosing casing and differential housing being omitted. Fig. 2 is a fragmental Vlongitudinal sectional view of the rear axle. Fig. 3 is a fragmen'tal view'on an enlarged scale, showing the bearing for the inner end of the shaft section and the gear elements Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the means for supporting the Vouter end of the shaft section. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a iiange associated with the outer end of the shaft section.

In the drawings, A denotes the rear axle .housing and B the differential housing. 1 denotes the two alined shaft sections through which power is communicated to the rear wheels 2. In the standard Ford rear axle the inner end of the shaft section 1 is rigidly secured to one ofthe bevel gears of the differential. I employa sliding iit between the shaft 1 and said differentiall gear, the end of the shaft being squared or splined, as at 3, and the hub 4 of the differential gear 5 being made relatively long so that the gear shall be efficiently supported upon the inner end of the shaft section. The dif fcrential gear case G is rotatably mounted upon the hubs 4 of the gears 5in the ordinary way. lVashers 7 are interposed be- Y tween the differential gear case 6 and the inner ends of the sleeves S of the housing B.' reason of the elongation of the hub 4L` of the differential gear 5, said hub extends within the inner vend of the sleeve 8, a floating bushing 9 being interposed between the outer end of the hub 4 and said sleeve S;

The roller bearing 10 is shorter than that used in the standardF ord rear axle,being` shortened to acomm'odate the extended The outer endof the shaft section ro4 tatably supported by means of a rollerbear-i y ing 11 mounted within a bushingl 12 fixed in the outer end of the rear-axle housing.

Thewheel 2 is mounted 'upon and secured to S` the shaft section 1 in theousual manner, V`

Inasmuch as the shaft section 1"fits.slid'- ably within the hub 4 of the differential gear 5, means isY provided near ,the outerend of the shaft section Ato prevent endwise move-Y ment ofthe shaft section. Between the wheel 2 and the roller bearing 11 the shaftsection 1 is turned down to provide a cylindrical surface 13, at the inner end of whichis an annular shoulder 14. Adisk 15 having a central opening 16 ts slidably upon the cylindrical shaft portion 13 and is secured against movement longitudinally of the rear axle by suitable means, as, for example, one or more yiianges 17 screwed or bolted to the iiange 18 of the brake housing; In the construction shown in the drawings I avail myselfvof the bolt 19 by means of which the torsion rod is secured to said brake housing, said bolt serving to secure the flange 17 of the disk 15 rigidly to the brake housing.- Iliave herein shown the disk 15 as provided with two flanges 17, one of which is secured to the brake housing 18 diametrically opposite to the bolt 19 by means of a bolt 20 passing through a hole drilled specially through the brake housing. 21 is a collar rigidly fixed upon the shaft section l., as by pressing it onto the cylindri calsurface 13 and up against the shoulder 14. It will be seen that the disk 15 lies be-V tween the collar 21 and the hub of the wheel 2 and thus serves to hold the shaft section Y 1 against excessive longitudinal movement. At opposite side's'of the disk 15 are end thrust washers 22 orthe like.-

In the event of breakage of one of the shaft sections 1 1 the wheel 2 is removed, the bolts 19 and 2OA are withdrawn, the vdisk 15 is removed, and the shaft section 1, with its roller bearing 11, is withdrawn.` The broken piece lying within the hub of the differential gear 5 is pulled out, and a new shaft section carrying a roller bearing 11 and a collar 21 is inserted into the rear axle housing, the inner end of the. shaft sec ion being slid vinto the hub 4. The disk 15 and Washers 22 aiereplaced and said disk secured 'in position and the Wheel 2 mounted upon the shaft.

It will be apparent thattheeonstruction\ `combination,a Irear, axle housing, a shaft' seotion inl'said`housing,"an anti-'friction bearing" inV said housing' for 'the outer end portion ot' said shaft section, the outer end yportion oflsa'kid shatseCtion-being reduced" in di# ain'etei" to 1 provide" a cylindrical surface and anVV annular"shoulder,Y a stop collar' rigidly mounted on said cylindrical surface against saidshoulder1 a VWheel mounted on`the out-er end oisaid shaft section', a`disk through Whiclik-tlieV shaft section extends, said disk lying between said stop collar and said Wheel, aiiange on said disk, a part rigid Witlitherearaxlefhousing, and a bolt securing said flange to said part.

2.' A rear axle for automobiles having, in combination, a rear yaxle housing, a shaft seetion'- i1i`'*s`ai2dhousing', ananti-friction bearing, iii said housing for the outer end portion of said shaft Sectio-11, a stop eollar rigidly mounted on saidishaitV section, ai wheel "mounted on the' outer end of said shaft' section,A a disk through which the shaftfsectionextends, said fdisk lying befY tween said` L stop`v collar and" said Wheel, iiv iange on said disc7 and means acting on said fiangeto secure said disk against` movement longitudinally of the rear axle housing;

fixed my signautre In testii'ii'ony whereof, Igliave' hereunto af- 

